‘My name is…’ campaign should be adopted by all care providers

A terminally ill doctor made headlines after she launched the “Hello my name is…” campaign to encourage healthcare staff to introduce themselves to patients.

Dr Kate Granger, a 31-year-old hospital consultant, started the campaign while she was being treated for cancer and was left frustrated by staff who failed to tell her their names.

Now more than 90 NHS organisations have signed up, and many care providers are taking note too.

At the CAP Awards top scores are only achieved when healthcare providers (hospitals and care homes) demonstrate that there is a good awareness of the need for inter-action with residents and patients.

For instance, meet and greet is a key part of the role for the staff serving the food, not that it is just plonked out in front of the patient. Eating is almost as much a social, as a biological function, and that should be reflected in the way meal times are run.

Communication is also vital (both structured and unstructured) in helping get feedback on the service experienced and an individual’s wants and dislikes.

Whether a person is passing comment on catering, housekeeping, care or any other service, they should be listened to and treated as a person who matters – and that starts with a name.

Maybe they are not happy with the position of lighting in a room, ease of access to the bedside table, access to water – perhaps a jug is too heavy or just out of reach? If this person is not known by a name they are sadly easier to ignore.

The culture of care is indicative of the site as a whole, from the greeting at reception through to staff communication with the patient/resident when cleaning their room.

Any one of us could one day find ourselves dependent on the care of another. Wouldn’t we want to be acknowledged, listened to and addressed by our given name?

Good luck to Dr Granger on a worthwhile and essential campaign to drive up standards in care – it often starts with the small details.